Electro Funk

I won’t hesitate to admit it: I’m pretty new to the Electro Funk scene. But so far, I’ve loved everything I’ve heard! Griz, Big Gigantic, and Gramatik, while they are more “mainstream” definitely pave the way for new listeners to fall in love with the genre. Like most other DJs I’m emotionally invested in what I’m listening to, and a greater appreciation because of it. When I heard the Herbie Hancock sample at the end of “Good Times Roll,” I was instantly taken back to my childhood: I grew up playing saxophone and listening to jazz and funk.

Statik Link

I met Statik Link while working on my DJ Puffy article. In addition to DJing, he teaches production at the Scratch Academy in NYC. I’d heard of him before;  his song “Kick the Funk” is a staple in my summer club sets. We got to talking, and he told me of a project he had in the works, featuring live instruments in tandem with electronic production. This isn’t unheard of. Calvin Harris did something similar with his single, “Slide.” Check it out below:

Statik and I have been buddies ever since. As I learned more about him, I became increasingly excited for his album release. His tracks have been played by MTV, and he’s had studio sessions across the country. The day after we met, I saw him live at his Brooklyn residency, and he threw down an old school set on vinyl. I was impressed. Needless to say, he keeps his head down and lets his work speak for him.

“Carpe Momentum”

As soon as I downloaded the album, I played it front to back, and I’ve done so at least 5 other times since. Each time, I pick up on something different – whether it’s subtleties in instrumentation, or wordplay in the lyrics, I haven’t felt like I’ve “played out” the record since I got it.

“Carpet Momentum” starts off BIG. A booming, robotic voice introduces the title track amidst background noise. It reminds me of the “Dearly Beloved” sequence at the beginning of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy.”  Maybe it’s an homage? Regardless, as the anticipation builds, it all comes to fruition with a BANG. The horns and synths drive old school, talkbox-style vocals in a groove that isn’t unlike James Brown’s “Get On Up.”

From there, the album takes a course of its own. “This is Me, Now,” and “Actin Rude” feature the heavy drops that Statik is known for. The latter is a fusion of Childish Gambino-styled rap (think “Freaks and Geeks”) over a chorus reminiscent of Outkast’s “Roses.” “We Came to Party,” the album’s single, is a funkadelic banger that lives up to its title. My favorite track, hands down, is “Stay Awhile.” It’s a tropical-house influenced, lounge-style track that has summer written all over it. It’s perfect for those sunset beach parties, or rooftop raves. I’d definitely love to remix it!!

All in all, “Carpe Momentum” is a solid album. It remains cohesive from track to track, something that is a huge selling point for me. The production and sound engineering are on point, and I’m excited to have it in my summer gig rotation. You can get it here on Bandcamp.

DJ Roodz was in no way compensated for this write-up.

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